City Commissioners spent several hours during a Feb. 12 special meeting hearing about the needs of the city’s public safety departments, which are largely unchanged from their levy asks last year. Asked whether they’d make their same levy ask in the upcoming budget process, most of the public safety department heads said no since it would be a waste of
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Gov. Greg Gianforte announced $8 million on Jan. 22 to improve community-based response services for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis. In May 2023, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed HB 872, which established a committee to address the state’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities service systems. The committee is conducting meetings to prioritize potential investments and it hasn’t yet been determined how
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A federal civil suit has been filed against Cascade County and Sheriff Jesse Slaughter in connection with a 2022 jail suicide. John Kempa, on behalf of Aleesha Mae Kempa, filed the civil complaint in district court in December. The case was transferred to federal court on Jan. 10. Aleesha Kempa was in the Cascade County Adult Detention Center when she committed
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Local agencies are coming up with new solutions since Alluvion Health stopped providing mobile response team services in November. Alluvion has said in September that they were cutting their MRT after hours services but were maintaining the program during business hours. In mid-November, Alluvion ceased proving MRT services altogether, according to the Great Falls Police Department. Maia LaSalle, spokeswoman for
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Many Rives Whole Health received a $ 4 million, four-year grant for certified community behavioral health clinic improvement and advancement of high-quality integrated services through the region. Many Rivers was previously funded in 2021- 2023 for a two-year $4 million grant to build and provide the CCBHC model in the region. This grant is to continue to improve and advance
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Great Falls Schools officials discussed student safety and well-being during an Oct. 2 board meeting. The board heard the annual school resource officer report from the Great Falls Police Department and the student wellness report from Andrea Savage, GFPS’ student wellness coordinator. Capt. Rob Moccasin of GFPD said that during the 2022-2023 school year, the four SROs handled 647 total
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Sheriff Jesse Slaughter released the name of the victim in the March 17 homicide on 3rd West Hill Drive. Slaughter said the victim was Joann Malone. An autopsy was conducted March 20 and the cause of death multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide. Coroner Dan Whitted of Toole County is handling Malone’s death investigation, Slaughter said
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Housed Great Falls, a recently formed local nonprofit, has launched a fundraising campaign to create a Pallet shelter community. The group is raising funds to acquire at least a third of an acre of land, 20 single occupancy shelters, service office, bathroom, shower, laundry and a community center. The group is hoping to raise $1.5 million in project start up
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As temperatures rise, local officials and community groups are continuing the discussion of homelessness and how to address issues at the First United Methodist Church at the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 6th Street in downtown Great Falls. Over the last year, the pastor at FUMC has allowed people to sleep and congregate on the church property, causing concern
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Tension among downtown residents, businesses and church communities has continued over the First United Methodist Church on the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 6th Street allowing homeless people to congregate and sleep on their property. The issue has been ongoing for months, becoming a regular topic at City Commission and other downtown meetings. City officials have been working to
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